Team Qatar shines with four Medals at Asian U18 Athletics Championships

Dammam – Team Qatar produced a solid performance on Day Two of the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championships, clinching four medals, one gold, two silvers, and a bronze, in a thrilling display of rising talent in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The championship runs through April 18.The highlight came from Mubarak Saeed, who stormed to gold in the 1500m, clocking an impressive 3:57.90. In the pole vault, Abdullah Saad Al-Abdullah soared to silver with a leap of 4.20m.The 400m race saw a double podium for Qatar, as Samer Mousa claimed silver in 48.22 seconds, edging just ahead of teammate Ahmed Saleh, who took bronze in 48.30 seconds.Qatar is fielding a ten-athlete squad in this prestigious continental event, featuring: Hamad Dhawi Al-Sultan and Hamad Saleh in the discus throw and shot put, Younis Al-Balushi and Abdullah Al-Abdullah in the pole vault, Abkar Idris and Abdulrazzaq Idris in the 400m hurdles, Ahmed Saleh and Samer Mousa in the 400m flat, Idrees Aboubakr in the 110m hurdles and Mubarak Saeed in the 1500m.

Chingotto & Galan, Deus brothers move into pre-quarter-finals

Doha: The world No.2 pair of Argentinian Federico Chingotto and Spaniard Alejandro Galan underlined their status in Doha on Tuesday as they made light work of Argentinian Eduardo Agustin Torre and his Spanish partner Alvaro Ceprero to move into the Round of 32 of the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.Chingotto and Galan won 6-1, 6-1 in a match that lasted only 49 minutes. The duo will now play the Argentina-Brazil pair of Maximiliano Sanchez and Lucas Campagnolo – the 2023 Ooredoo Qatar Major quarter-finalists.The first to advance to the Round of 16 was the fifth-seeded pair of Jeronimo Gonzalez and Jon Sanz, who rallied from being a set down to beat Anton Sand and Marc Quilez 6–7(4), 6–1, 6–0 in an all-Spanish tie. In the Round of 16, they will meet the Argentine-Spanish duo Aris Patiniotis and David Gala Sanchez, who shocked No.10 seeds Valentino Libaak and Juan Tello of Argentina 6–2, 7–6(4) in one of the biggest surprises of the day.Also suffering defeat were Argentina’s Leonel Daniel Aguirre and Gonzalo Gabriel Alfonso, seeded 15th, who lost to Deus brothers Miguel and Nuno Deus of Portugal 7-6, 6-4.No. 16 seeds, Jose Antonio Diestro and Javier Ruiz of Spain went down to Spanish-Argentine pair of Mario Del Castillo and Ignacio Piotto Albornoz 4-6, 5-7.In another thrilling see-saw affair, Argentineans Juan Cruz Belluati and Ignacio Sager prevailed over Spanish 14th seeds Javier Garcia and Javier Barahona 7–6(4), 2–6, 6–0 for a place in the Round of 16.In the women’s action, the Round of 32 threw up exciting contests too. Among those showing good form were the 9th-seeded Tamara Icardo Alcorisa and Claudia Jensen who beat Sofia Saiz Vallejo and Marina Lobo 6-3, 7-5, while 16th seeded Marta Talaván and Ksenia Sharifova scored over Ana Nogueira and Maria Fassio Goyeneche 6-2, 6-0.Meanwhile, 15th seeded Araceli Martinez and Alix Collombon overcame a spirited challenge from Maria Rodriguez Abajo and Raquel Eugenio Barrera for a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(6) win to move into the Round of 16.

17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (Taishan) Kicks Off in Doha

Doha: The 17th edition of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (Taishan) got underway yesterday in Doha and will continue through April 19, bringing together a world-class field of gymnasts from across the globe. Among the most prominent delegations are those from Armenia, China, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, and Great Britain, underscoring the event’s international prestige and competitive significance. All athletes are aiming to deliver their best performances and secure top results.The organizing committee has allocated a total prize pool of $50,000, with $5,000 awarded for each of the 10 apparatus events—six for men and four for women. Prizes will be distributed to the top eight finishers in each event. The tournament features 95 male and 55 female gymnasts, with 35 international judges overseeing the competition.As expected, the championship began with a high level of intensity. The qualification rounds, spread over two days, started yesterday with events on five apparatus: three for men—floor exercise (16 gymnasts), pommel horse (21 gymnasts), and still rings (13 gymnasts)—and two for women—vault and uneven bars, each with 12 gymnasts competing. Today, the qualifications will continue with the remaining five apparatus: the men will compete on vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar, while the women will contest balance beam and floor exercise. Eight gymnasts from each apparatus will advance to the finals, which are scheduled for April 18 and 19.The championship features a notable lineup of athletes. Among them is Karbanov of Armenia, the silver medalist on pommel horse at the Paris Olympics. Kazakhstan’s Kabanov, runner-up in the Olympic vault event, is also competing. Tong Hong from Chinese Taipei, who won bronze on the horizontal bar in Paris, and Ashaw Yaqian of China, silver medalist on balance beam, are among the contenders. Jordanian gymnast Ahmad Abu Al-Saud is also competing on the pommel horse, adding to the strong international presence.Andrew Tumbas, Chair of the FIG Men’s Technical Committee, praised the exceptional organization of the tournament. Speaking to the media during the opening day, he remarked that Qatar once again demonstrates its expertise in hosting top-tier international events. He commended the quality of the competition hall, training facilities, accommodation, and logistical arrangements, saying everything was at the highest level. Tumbas noted that the competition had started with great intensity, as athletes gave their all in pursuit of Olympic qualification, and he expects the level to rise even further in the finals.Donatella Sacchi, Chair of the FIG Women’s Technical Committee, echoed that sentiment. She expressed her admiration for the high standard of organization and attention to detail, highlighting the professional environment Qatar has created for the event. She was especially impressed by the enthusiastic crowd, which she said added a special energy to the championship and reflected the growing popularity of gymnastics in the region. Sacchi also praised the state-of-the-art venues and support services for athletes, describing Qatar as a model for international sports event hosting. She added that the level of preparation and optimal competition environment would allow the world’s best female gymnasts to deliver standout performances.Nasser Al-Hamad, Technical Director of the championship, confirmed that competition has been fierce since the opening day. He said the event brings together Olympic medalists from Paris 2024, previous World Cup champions, and emerging talents who have captured attention with their performances. Al-Hamad highlighted the balance between established stars and rising names, describing it as a positive sign of the sport’s development. He expressed pride in the championship’s technical excellence and said the organizing team aims for this edition to be recognized as one of the most successful in the World Cup series. With a packed field of high-profile athletes, he concluded, Doha has firmly established itself as a key destination on the international gymnastics circuit, and he hopes the city will continue to be the preferred venue for the world’s best gymnasts. 

Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel enters Quarter-Finals

DOHA  - The Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025 continued today with great success, hosted by the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.The world No. 1 pair, Spaniard Arturo Coello and Argentine Agustin Tapia, advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating the Spanish-Argentine duo Juan Cruz and Ignacio Sager in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-4.Coello and Tapia will face the No. 8 seeded pair tomorrow in the quarterfinals Pablo Cardona and Leonardo Augsburger, who qualified after beating Mexican duo Miguel and Nino Deus with a score of 7-6 and 6-4.Also advancing to the quarterfinals was the No. 3 seeded Spanish duo Miguel Yanguas and Jorge Nieto, who defeated Argentine Piotto Albornoz and Spaniard Del Castillo with a score of 9-0 and 6-0.Spanish pair Jeronimo Gonzalez and Jon Sanz, seeded fifth, beat Italy’s Aris Patiniotis and Spain’s David Gala Sanchez, 6-3 and 6-4.In the women's competition, the world No. 1 Spanish duo Ari Sanchez and Paula Josemaria reached the quarterfinals after defeating Spain’s Marta Talavan and Russia’s Ksenia Sharifova in a dominant 6-0, 6-0 match.Spanish players Beatriz Gonzalez and Claudia Fernandez defeated their compatriots Marta Barrera and Marta Caparros 6-1, 7-5. The duo Tamara Icardo and Claudia Jensen defeated Spanish pair Agueda Perez and Melania Munoz 6-2, 6-4.The No. 2 seeded pair Gemma Triay and Argentina’s Delfina Brea also secured a spot in the quarterfinals by overcoming Spaniards Mariana Gutierrez and Victoria Iglesias, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.Tariq Zainal, who serves as President of the Asian Padel Federation and Secretary-General of the Qatar Padel Federation expressed his delight at the tremendous success of the competition.The official praised all organizing committees, congratulating them for their world-class professionalism and commitment, which he said will ensure the event concludes in the spectacular fashion the world has come to expect from Qatar’s hosting of major international tournaments.He highlighted that the tournament has been exceptional at every level.  He also congratulated all participating teams on the remarkable level of competition they’ve showcased and extended his best wishes to all players and athletes aiming to ascend the podium at the conclusion of the championship. 

Qatar’s Cherif and Ahmed enter Asian Tour semis

Thailand - Qatar’s beach volleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan continued their unbeaten run at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Samila Open in Thailand as they advanced into the semi-finals with a thrilling victory over their Australian counterparts on Tuesday.The top-ranked Asian duo, Younousse and Tijan swept past Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan, securing the win with a 21-18, 21-16 scoreline in a 36-minute clash.Earlier, the former Olympic bronze medalists, Younousse and Tijan overcame Indonesian team of Danangsyah Pribadi and Yosi Firnanda by 21–15, 21–14 in their final group stage match which lasted 39 minutes.Their campaign began with a commanding victory over Hong Kong’s S. H. Kan and C. Wong (21–8, 21–6) in 24 minutes. They then outlasted Kazakhstan’s Sergey Bogatu and Kirill Gurin 21–11, 26–24 in a tightly contested 47-minute encounter, before dispatching Iran’s Salemi and Ghalehnovi (21–13, 21–9) in 33 minutes to secure a place among the top eight contenders.Younousse and Tijan, currently ranked 12th in the world, will next face Iran’s top pair, Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab, in Wednesday’s semi-final. The final is scheduled for later the same evening. 

17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (Taishan) Kicks Off Today in Doha

Doha: The 17th edition of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (Taishan) kicks off today in Doha and runs until April 19, with participation from a distinguished group of the world’s top male and female gymnasts.The Organizing Committee has allocated a total prize pool of $50,000, distributed at a rate of $5,000 per apparatus. Athletes will compete across 10 apparatus events—6 for men and 4 for women—with prizes awarded to the top eight athletes in each.The competition features 95 male gymnasts and 55 female gymnasts, and the contests will be officiated by 35 international judges. The qualifying rounds will take place over the first two days, followed by the finals on the last two days, all at Aspire Dome.The championship is expected to deliver an exceptional level of performance, given the caliber of the participants. Among the standout names are:Karbanov (Armenia): Silver medalist on pommel horse at the Paris OlympicsStar gymnast from Kazakhstan: Olympic silver medalist on vaultTong Hong (Chinese Taipei): Bronze medalist on high bar at the Paris OlympicsAshaw Yaqian (China): National champion and Olympic silver medalist on balance beamThe organizing committee, chaired by Ali Al-Hitmi, has completed all preparations, with everything now in place for the competition to begin and for fans to enjoy top-level action.Al-Hitmi: We Are Ready to Deliver Another Outstanding EditionSpeaking to the media yesterday, Ali Al-Hitmi, Chair of the Organizing Committee, confirmed that everyone is fully prepared for the start of this important championship.“We are proud to host this major event for the 17th consecutive time. All organizing committees have worked tirelessly to ensure this edition is delivered to the highest standards.”He continued:“We began our preparations early by forming all working committees and meticulously planning every organizational aspect to ensure smooth operations and avoid leaving anything to chance.”He added:“We have full confidence in the capabilities of every team member across all committees to fulfill their duties and help deliver a world-class event.”Al-Hitmi concluded:“Through this event and other championships previously hosted by Qatar, we aim to promote the culture of gymnastics. This has been a core mission of the Federation since its establishment in 2001.”Judging Committees Finalize Apparatus AssignmentsYesterday, the Men’s Judges Committee, headed by Ando Tumbas, Chair of the FIG Technical Committee, held its meeting and conducted the draw for apparatus assignments.A similar draw was conducted by the Women’s Judges Committee, chaired by Donatella Sacchi, who also serves as Chair of the FIG Women’s Technical Committee. All judges confirmed their readiness to officiate the event.Al-Buainain: We’re Ready to LaunchAbeer Al-Buainain, Secretary General of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation and Championship Director, also confirmed that everything is in place for the start of the 17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (Taishan).She said:“The Federation has worked intensively over the past months. All committee members have gone above and beyond to finalize every detail ahead of this big moment — the official launch of the championship.”“We are proud of the preparations we’ve achieved and have great confidence in all our teams to deliver a world-class event that meets expectations.”Al-Buainain also highlighted the importance of having Qatari gymnasts Rakan Al-Hareth and Salma Nasser compete in this championship:“It’s a great opportunity for them, as they’ll be competing alongside some of the world’s best gymnasts. This level of exposure is rare and will help significantly in developing their technical skills. We hope they can achieve something special here, especially after their strong performance at the DOBRO Artistic Gymnastics World Cup held in Osijek, Croatia from April 10 to 13.”Top-Class Media ServicesThe Organizing Committee has ensured a full suite of media services to support local and international journalists covering the event.A dedicated website has been launched, offering updated information such as athlete lists, schedules, and rankings, with real-time updates.A Facebook page has also been created to publish live results after each competition.Additionally, the event will be broadcast on Al Kass Sports Channels.Venue Fully PreparedThe competition venue has been decorated and fully equipped to host the World Cup. The main arena will host the official competitions, while a separate training hall under the same roof will serve as the warm-up area — offering great convenience for athletes and coaching staff alike.Final Training Sessions CompletedYesterday, the participating teams conducted their final training sessions in preparation for today’s start.All gymnasts appeared in top form during training, delivering strong performances — a promising sign of high-level competition to come in the official matches.